Letter-opener.



No. 635,495. Patented but; .24, I899.

" H. MABKHAM.

LETTER OPENER.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

wan 90 0090,

UNTTED STATES PATENT EETEE.

HARRY MARKHAM, OF SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE TOVVILBUR I. TI-IAYER, OF SAME PLACE.

LETTER-O PEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,495, dated October24, 1899.

Application filed February 23,1899. Serial No. 706,509. (No model.)

knife adjustably fixed thereto with a bev eled cutting edge presenteddownwardly, a spring-guard fixed with relation to the end of the knife,and a channel formed in the base at a point behind the forward part ofthe cutting edge.

It also comprises details of construction which will be more fullyexplained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a side elevation, partly in section, of the opener. Fig. 2 is a topview of the same.

A is a base of any suitable length and width and provided with a meansby which it can be permanently fixed. This base has a vertical slot H orchannel made in it near one end of sufficient width to receive thethickness of the rear portion of the cutting-blade B, the front portionof which projects above the surface of the base, as shown. The rearportion of the blade is made of considerable depth, so as to be firmlybraced in the slot or channel, and it has a vertical channel I) cut outextending from the bottom upward. Through this vertical channel andthrough the sides of the base passes a screw D, which when loosenedallows the blade to be lifted out of its place. When the blade has beenset at the proper angle, the screw is tightened and the blade is lockedin place. From the front of this deep rear portion the blade tapers to arounded front end, the upper edge being essentially straight andparallel with the top of the base and the lower edge being inclined orbeveled, so that the blade is narrower at the front than the rear. Thislower edge is sharpened, and at a point a short distance from. the frontit approaches closely to the surface of the base. At this point adepression a is made in the base, so that the rear cutting portion ofthe blade stands above this depression and entirely clear of the base,

the only part that approaches the base being that portion of the edgewhich is contiguous to the front of the depression. This allows the edgewhich is to be cut to be drawn along beneath the cutting edge of theknife, and passing between it and the base a clean cut is made, and byreason of the depressed chamber or excavation in the base the article tobe cut will be drawn through this depression and will not clog or becomechoked, as will be liable to occur if the cutting edge terminate at thesurface of the base without the rearwardly-extending depression.

In order to properly guide the letter or fold- .ed paper to be cut, Ihave shown a curved spring E, having one end fixed to a vertical post orscrew F, and at a short distance in front of this post the spring restsagainst the pin G. The front end beyond the pin is free to bendoutwardly and admit any desired thickness of envelop or other fold whichis to be cut.

The operation will be as follows: The front end of the knife beingrounded and sharpened the envelop is pressed against the guidespring, sothat the blade enters the open space at the end of the flap of theenvelop, and by drawing the envelop rearwardly, guided against thespring, it will be cleanly out, and passing over the depression made inthe base it will not choke or clog the knife; but any length of envelopor folded paper can be drawn along with the certainty of making a cleanopening out. In this manner envelops may be opened with great speed andabsolute accuracy.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for opening envelops consisting of a base an inverted bladefixed to the base having the cutting edge presented downwardly, saidblade tapering to a rounded point and an elastic guide adjacent to thepoint of the cutter.

2. An envelop-opening device consisting of a base, a tapering bladehaving its cutting edge presented downwardly and forming an angle withthe base, a depressed chamber formed in the base beneath the rearcut-ting edge of the knife and a guide adjacent to the front end,substantially as described.

An envelop-opening device consisting of a base having a depressedchamber near the rear, a cutting-blade having the edge presenteddownwardly and diverging upwardly from the front edge of the depressionof the base, a channel in the base in which the rear end of the blade isfitted and an adjusting device whereby the blade is set and locked withrelation to the base.

4. An envelop-opening device consisting of a base having a depressionformed in the surface, a cutter having a rear portion made wide andfitting a vertical slot or channel made in line with the central portionof the depression, a slot formed in the lower side of said rear portiona screw passing transversely through the base, the shank of the screwfitting the slot in the lower part of the blade and adapted to adjustand lock it in place, a tapering extension of this rear portion havingthe cutting edge presented downwardly, extending through the center ofthe depressed chamber in close proximity with its front edge and risingtherefrom above the surface of the base and terminating in a roundedsharpened point whereby the fold to be out can be passed beneath thecutting edge, and a curved elastic spring standing approximatelyparallel with the front end of the cutting-blade.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY MARKIIAM.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH F. SoHoT'rLER, F. ll. SCIIOTTLER.

